as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill
Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans
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Recent Examples of breakthrough
Their big breakthrough relied heavily on x-ray diffraction data produced by chemist Rosalind Franklin and biophysicist Maurice Wilkins at King’s College London.
—
David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
The 2026 Grammy nominations are finally here, with some notable breakthroughs and reigning hot streaks from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and many more.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
For years, K-pop fans wondered when a Grammy breakthrough would occur for the music style hyped and consumed around the world.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
At the same time, the detective assigned to the case begins to uncover secrets about Scout, along with an unsettling breakthrough in Georgia’s death.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
David M. Ewalt, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
The 2026 Grammy nominations are finally here, with some notable breakthroughs and reigning hot streaks from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Justin Bieber, Tyler, the Creator, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and many more.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
For years, K-pop fans wondered when a Grammy breakthrough would occur for the music style hyped and consumed around the world.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
At the same time, the detective assigned to the case begins to uncover secrets about Scout, along with an unsettling breakthrough in Georgia’s death.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthrough
Noun
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At Barton Creek Technologies, Anna Chen, the chief human resources officer, faces a dilemma over the company’s performance improvement plan (PIP).—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
8 Nov. 2025
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Economic feasibility and future outlook While early studies suggest electric roads may be more economical than relying solely on large EV batteries, long-term feasibility depends on electricity prices, grid upgrade costs, and improvements in battery density.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Yet, even as photovoltaic technology advances, engineers continue to chase a balance between efficiency, stability, and cost.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
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Understanding automation and working to create the conditions where workers can benefit from technical advances is an important task for the twenty-first century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The massive margin of victory sets Minnesota (5-4) up well for NBA Cup advancement.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breakthrough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthrough. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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